For those utterly confused as to why or how I am writing this, I’ll provide some context. I moved here this summer from the (Glorious?) isle of Great Britain, having lived there for roughly 11 years. Yes, I do enjoy the occasional cup of tea. I ‘graduated’ from my high school across the pond and decided to continue my academic adventures in my first hometown, Harrisonburg. Surprisingly, school’s been been pretty swell so far.

Don’t worry, I’ll say nice things.

Getting grades – Almost every piece of work you complete here goes towards a final grade some way or another. In England, most classes were the preparation for a series of timed exams based on what we had been studying. If you didn’t get the grade you wanted, you went through the whole tedious process again. The system here really encourages all-round effort.

Classroom atmosphere & rules – Food allowed in class? I was getting pretty skilled at concealing snacks behind books or on my lap in my old school, but it’s amazing that I can simply place it on display here. Fantastic. Taking notes is all the same, I’m undecided whether there’s any clear difference. What’s up with those hall passes you have to get here, eh? I’m not too sure about that.

Cafeteria – I’ve heard a few complaints about the food here and there, but I’m absolutely amazed by it. Good job, cafeteria staff. It’s a pleasant change from what I’ve become used to: Inedible paninis, dodgy sandwiches and pizzas topped with so little cheese it’s barely ethical. I used to bring my own lunch, now I look forward to what the school offers.

Opportunities – What’s a drama? Apart from the plays I performed and was tested on for my class, I’ve never been able to do something as wide-scale as One Act. Without Newsstreak I couldn’t have written this ‘perceptive’ article, or at least have a place to post it. At Shaftesbury School, England, you made your own fun.

Classes – I was never aware being on TV counted as a class, but the noble teachers of America have made this possible (in a good way). I used to take a class called ‘Citizenship’. To this day, I still do not know what that class was meant to be. Religious Education is also something I am thoroughly pleased to have ditched in my transfer. It was a class that aimed to educate students on different world religions, but rather suspiciously, around 60% of the content seemed to be focused on Christianity.

Despite my claims, I’ll give credit to Britain for having a decent schooling system. Though it may not always appear to have as much opportunity, it certainly tries. If you’re ever offered the opportunity to experience an English high school, even if for a day, don’t hesitate. I guarantee you’ll find it as insightful as I’ve found the United States. Just don’t put on a fake accent, that can only end badly.